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Saturday, November 1, 2025

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Best of the Bay 2025 Editors’ Pick: Sisterita

Downtown French fare with a Thai twist and bookish ambiance, the perfect sustenance for your brunch bunch.

48 Hills editors and writers are highlighting their favorite people and things of 2025. Vote now for your own favorites in our 51st Best of the Bay Readers’ Poll! And join us October 22, 6pm-9pm, at El Rio for the 48 Hills Annual Community Gala to party with the winners and celebrate the independent spirit of the Bay Area. 

You could easily stroll right past Sisterita (669 Commercial Street ), a tiny brunch spot on a quiet side street sandwiched between the Financial District and Chinatown—but that would be a pity. This tucked-away spot specializes in delicious French fare with a Thai twist, along with American classics like steak and eggs and burgers. All served with a side of serious Parisienne charm.

With ‘gram-worthy food and decor, plus friendly service, Sisterita is my first choice for brunching with friends or out-of-town visitors. Or, when I’m simply craving eggs and a midweek mini escape from the bustle of the city.

Enjoying a meal in the restaurant’s main dining area feels like you’re hanging out in the chic and cozy library of a European friend with impeccable taste. Handsome sage-green bookcases line the wall, stretching above caramel-colored leather banquettes paired with white marble tables. An arched doorway leads to a second seating area where an eye-catching mix of chandeliers, gold sconces, elegant mirrors, and a sweet little bar make for an equally inviting space.

Anpoy (April) Pawaritsirikul opened the eatery in 2022 with her wife Phusanisa (Beren) Juntra and other partners. Both women are natives of Thailand.

“We make everything from scratch,” Pawaritsirikul tells 48hills. “We want our guests to feel cozy and comfortable and leave with a good memory of their meal.”

Anpoy (April) Pawaritsirikul

Sisterita’s eclectic entrees run the gamut from French onion soup to waffles with fried chicken and a Dungeness crab stir fry (aka King of the Westcoast). Other specialties include the decadent Voila French Toast.

I’m partial to the Country Style Scramble, a flavorful blend of chicken sausage, spinach, red onions, herbs, and tomatoes finished with habanero jack cheese for a subtle spicy kick that never disappoints. Friends rave about Sisterita’s popular eggs benedict options, including the Emerald: crispy chicken, grilled bell peppers, and green curry hollandaise. All egg dishes come with your choice of sides. (You can’t go wrong with the batter-dipped home fries.) And whether you like your brunch boozy or alcohol-free, you can choose from a variety of inventive cocktails and mocktails.

Dorothy O'Donnell
Dorothy O'Donnellhttps://www.clippings.me/users/dorothyodonnell
Dorothy O’Donnell is a San Francisco-based writer focused on arts and culture. When she’s not writing, she’s usually thrifting or roaming the city streets taking candid photos of people or whatever else catches her eye.

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